Hip-hop veteran Kanye West sure knows how to make fans wait. In light of the upcoming release of Donda – or perhaps another major controversy – one of his recent hit singles has been removed from streaming services. Kanye West Mysteriously Removes Hit Single Ye has taken “Nah Nah Nah (Remix)” offline, which features none […]
“We can talk, but money talks, so talk mo’ bucks,” Jay-Z spits on 2001’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”, indicating just how mammoth his empire would become. Not only was The Blueprint single his first Top 10 hit (signaling his growing rap domination), but it also marked Kanye West’s mainstream introduction. Then solely an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, he made his place known with the jovial “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” production and later his rollercoaster ride as a solo rap superstar.
In the decade following “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”, both artists’ pockets got even heavier as they skyrocketed as the Kings of Rap. Being the boastful men they are, their untouchable stature was celebrated on Watch The Throne. The joint project, which turns 10 this month, was a natural progression of the buddies’ careers. West was still on a high from 2010’s magnum opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a prog-rap feast that was released eight months prior. As for Jay-Z, he dropped his 11th album The Blueprint 3 in 2009. Albeit insipid compared to the triptych’s previous albums, it gifted him his first No. 1 hit with the ubiquitous, Grammy-winning “Empire State Of Mind”.
So they kept the momentum going, combining years of friendship, equal love for the finer things in life, and sh*t-talking together on a handful of collaborations on Watch The Throne. The packaging alone was dripping in luxe: the pair called on Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy’s creative director at the time, to design the gold-plated artwork as well as their tour outfits that ignited the idea of concert merch being presented as high-fashion.
Even the album’s creation was an event. They recorded in extravagant hotels and villas all around the world, from New York City, Paris, Sydney (where Russell Crowe, whom West shouts out on “Illest Motherf*cker Alive” made a cameo), England, Los Angeles, and Hawaii (the same place West hunkered down for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). It was a lifestyle that only the rich and famous could acquire, which they made clear throughout the album.
“It’s just protecting the music and the culture. It’s people that’s in the forefront of the music. ‘Watch the Throne,’ like protect it. You just watch how popular music shift, and how hip-hop basically replaced rock & roll as the youth music,” Jay-Z explained during the album’s promo run. “The same thing can happen to hip-hop. It can be replaced by other forms of music. So it’s making sure that we put the effort into making the best product so we can contend with all this other music, with dance music that’s dominating the charts right now and indie music that’s dominating the festivals.”
That idea of reclaiming rap as a youth genre was best seen on “H•A•M,” the album’s first single and the most arrogant track on Watch The Throne. The pair’s braggadocio lyrics (see Jay-Z’s Birdman subliminal “I’m like, ‘Really, half a billi,’ n****, really?’ You got baby money / Keep it real with n****s, n****s ain’t got my lady money) was anchored by Lex Luger’s intense, spooky, and operatic production — his signature sound that ruled hip-hop for a wink of time. Yet “H•A•M” wasn’t the best reflection of the album, and the rappers seemingly agreed, ultimately placing it as a bonus track on the deluxe edition.
Watch The Throne’s true landmark was “Otis.” Diehard fans remember exactly where they were when it premiered on Hot 97, with Funkmaster Flex dropping infinite bombs on the single. It’s one of West and Jigga’s most jubilant moments that highlight their innate chemistry, as they trade grandiose bars atop a fervently chopped sample of Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” that could only be executed by West himself. The Spike Jonze-directed video doubled-down on the rappers’ blatant flexes (“Luxury rap, the Hermès of verses / Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive”) by deconstructing a Maybach 57 like kids playing with a toy car just for the hell of it.
The decadence continued on The Neptunes co-produced “Gotta Have It” that gave us timely references like “planking on a million” and “Maybachs on ‘Bachs on ‘Bachs on ‘Bachs on ‘Bachs”, as well as the “No Church In The Wild” opener. Featuring Frank Ocean (who just became a critical darling with his debut mixtape nostalgia,ULTRA), it is an ominous, cinematic masterpiece. The artists discuss Greek philosophy, the constructs of religion and monogamy (“Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy laid beats / Hova flow the Holy Ghost”), and misogynistic power (“You will not control the threesome”)
Then there’s “N****s In Paris.” The Grammy-winning track put producer Hit-Boy on the map, thanks to its bonkers blend of thumping basslines, ear-piercing synths, and that incredibly random Blades Of Glory dialogue that best summates the song: “No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative!” It’s weird, anthemtic nature is best displayed in a live setting, with West and Jay-Z showing just how wonderfully obnoxious it is by performing it a record of 11 times during their Paris tour stop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG_dA32oH44
But the luxury rap and trendy sounds (the dubstep-driven “Who Gon Stop Me” and the bombastic electronics of “Why I Love You”) were balanced with messages that gave an insight into what it means to be successful and Black in America.
The pair call upon RZA, who funnels Nina Simone’s ”Feeling Good” through Auto-tune as they somberly ruminate over the lessons they want to teach their future sons. It was an interesting foreshadow, as both rappers first had daughters before adding their male heirs to their throne. While West mostly harbored the album’s viral moments, “Welcome To The Jungle” belongs to Jay-Z. Here, he reveals pain, grief, and depression he’s faced while describing himself as a “tortured soul,” flipping the Guns N’ Roses debaucherous reference to represent the rugged streets. Yes, the rappers were rich beyond measure, but they also grappled with the average Black American struggle that contrasted with Black excellence (“Murder To Excellence”) and if the American Dream is even achievable (“Made In America”).
Jay-Z and West already launched their careers into music’s stratosphere by the time of Watch The Throne’s release, but they solidified themselves as rap visionaries shrouded by wealth in an untouchable tax bracket. Jay-Z continued to flaunt his riches, releasing the designer Magna Carta Holy Grail in 2013 before breaking his facade with 2017’s 4:44 and later becoming rap’s first billionaire in 2019. West had a vastly different trajectory: in the midst of releasing five more albums (including this year’s DONDA), he became even more known for controversy, from supporting President Trump, having very public mental breakdowns that targeted then-wife Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and his daughter North, harmfully declaring “Slavery is dead” and later divorcing the Kardashian.
There have been many cries for a Watch The Throne sequel, and the teasers and false starts didn’t help the cause. It was unclear if the reunion was ever going to happen, especially as Jay-Z continued to distance himself from his once-close ally. Interim joint projects, from Drake and Future’s What A Time To Be Alive to 21 Savage and Offset’s Without Warning and even West’s Kids See Ghosts with Kid Cudi, helped satiate millennial rap fans.
The pair seem to be on better terms, though, with the former recently making an unexpected appearance on West’s DONDA. But the opulent spectacle that made Watch The Throne so fun cannot be replicated. “How many people you know can take it this far?” Beyoncé mused on “Lift Off.” Jay-Z and Kanye West exceeded far beyond their pinnacles at the time, and it’s hard to guesstimate how much further they could possibly go. But we’re fine not knowing the answer for now.
Deshaun Watson has been dealing with various off-the-field issues over the past few months in light of the sexual assault lawsuits leveled against him. Back in March, Watson was accused of acting in an inappropriate sexual manner during various massage sessions. As of today, 22 women have accused Watson of assault, and many of these women have described his alleged acts in great detail.
Despite all of these allegations, Watson is still at Houston Texans camp, where he is avoiding holdout fines. Watson hasn’t done much during training camp, and it seems as though he has been treated for injuries to his ankles and calves, according to reporter John McClain.
Watson had made it clear that he wants out of Houston, which would suggest a trade is on the horizon. According to reporter Charles Robinson, the asking price for Watson is a hefty one, and that the Texans will force Watson to be their QB this year if they can’t find the right trade partner. This would suggest that Watson could very well play for the team again, which is a report that is in dispute.
Just moments before Robinson’s report, McClain said that Watson would never play another down for the Texans, which means a trade might be incoming. For now, however, nothing has been worked out, and the league still has to decide whether or not they will allow Watson to play this year given the accusations he’s facing.
Needless to say, this is a complicated situation that might take a long time to resolve itself.
R. Kelly is officially on trial in New York after months of delays, and he’s looking to score a win by having his herpes-related charges dismissed.
As reported by TMZ, one of R. Kelly’s first legal motions this week as his trial begins was to ask a judge to throw away charges related to two people who accused the singer of exposing them to sexually transmitted diseases, including herpes. He was charged for knowingly exposing two sexual partners to herpes in March 2020 but he’s seeking for the charges to be disregarded because of the legislature connected to the virus.
Kelly’s legal team is reportedly arguing that herpes does not fall under the umbrella of STDs under the law because it’s “Not An Acute, Bacterial Venereal Disease.” They are using the World Health Organization and the New York State Department of Health to back up their claims. Kelly’s lawyers say that herpes classifies as a virus, not a venereal disease, which would render the charges invalid.
The disgraced singer will also stand trial in Chicago later this year but, right now, all eyes are on his trial in New York. We will keep you updated as more news comes in from the courtroom.
Chris Brown has experienced several undeniable peaks throughout his career, as well as a few notable valleys. In spite of the darker days, Breezy has retained a loyal fanbase of devotees, damn near religious in their fervor for the multitalented artist.
It’s not entirely hard to see why. Throughout his near-two-decade-deep career, Chris Brown has been at the center of countless hits, singing his heart out, spitting bars with slept-on precision, and tearing up the stage with enough prowess to draw comparisons to the late Michael Jackson. Anyone who has ever seen Chris Brown live would probably attest to his showmanship, and not even his haters can deny that he is indeed objectively talented.
He is, as it happens, also rather outspoken. In fact, Breezy recently took to social media to express his disappointment with the artists of today. It should be noted that he did not actually name names or single anybody out, as the bulk of his ire appears to be aimed at a more general crowd. “Fuck all these gimmicks,” he writes. “What happened to actually being talented?”
One has to wonder what might have been the catalyst for Brown’s shots to be fired, though to be fair, antics aren’t entirely scarce these days. Curiously enough, Brown actually let fly another subliminal shot not too long ago, with many concluding that DaBaby was the recipient. “Shut the fuck up,” he wrote. “Do yo shows, thank everybody, then get the fuck off stage!!!!!!!!!!!” Clearly, Breezy’s patience is reaching a breaking point, and it’s likely that this isn’t the last bit of criticism we’ve heard from the veteran artist.
Do you agree with Brown’s assessment that talent is, for all intents and purposes, no longer a factor in an artist’s success?
LaMelo Ball was one of the most exciting players in the entire NBA last season and as a result, he won Rookie Of The Year. This was a controversial decision according to some analysts as they felt like Anthony Edwards had the more complete season. Regardless, Ball is expected to take a huge leap this season and if he is successful, Melo could very well become one of the next great superstars in the league.
When you are a big star like LaMelo, endorsement deals typically follow you around. When the youngest Ball brother was just a rookie, he signed a deal with Puma, and fans were curious as to what he would deliver. Now, it appears as though Melo is getting his very own signature shoe, which will certainly be a hit amongst fans of the star player.
As for the name of the shoe, it is going to be called the “MB1” according to ESPN’s sneaker reporter Nick DePaula. Melo wore the shoe to a Hornets summer league game last night and as you can see, the shoe has a chunky look to it, which fits the recent aesthetics pushed by the Puma brand. From there, the first colorway is all orange, and the monochromatic look is working wonders here. While some may not like it, there is no doubt that these are flashy.
For now, there are no details surrounding when this shoe will be released. With the NBA season just two months away, we could be in for some new details very soon, so keep it locked to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates.
City Girls’ rapper Yung Miami might be dating Diddy, or at least that’s what their fans believe. A few weeks ago, the two were spotted holding hands in a new photo, which sparked the initial rumors. Then, last week, Yung Miami posted an intimate video of herself sitting on the music mogul’s lap, which led many people to believe that they’re officially an item.
Going live for the first time on Instagram in a while, Yung Miami egged on the speculation by telling fans she’s got a “secret” in her heart, while Diddy is also fueling the rumors, telling his base that it’s “cuffing season.”
Saying that she feels like a new woman, Yung Miami showed off her new Cuban link chain and said, “I got a secret that’s in my heart and I wanna tell the world that I’m loving you, babe.”
Posting his own video, Diddy told his fans, “Enjoyed the summer. It’s gonna be a cuffin’ winter. Cuffing season, it’s my season.”
Do you think they’re almost ready to spill the deets? Could Yung Miami and Diddy be the latest rap royalty couple? Watch the videos below and let us know what you think. Do they make a cute couple?
Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers went on a franchise-best playoff run this year as they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever. They were eventually eliminated by the Phoenix Suns, although it’s clear that had Kawhi Leonard been healthy, they could have made it to the NBA Finals. Either way, the Clippers have a lot to be excited about moving forward, and they have already made big moves this offseason.
For instance, the Clippers re-signed Reggie Jackson and they were also able to get Kawhi Leonard back. While Leonard might miss most of the season with an ACL injury, he could very well be back in time for the playoffs, which would very well make the Clippers immediate contenders.
Recently, George took to Instagram where he gave his reactions to the Clippers’ recent signings. As you can imagine, George is extremely excited to have his best teammates back on the roster. Jackson was a breakout star in the playoffs for the Clippers, while Kawhi is the glue that holds the team together.
While the regular season might be difficult for the Clippers, there is no doubt that they will continue to be a top-tier team as long as George and Kawhi are on board.
Stay tuned to HNHH for more updates from around the NBA.
Trevor Lawrence was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft this past year and with that comes large expectations. Jacksonville Jaguars fans believe he is going to be the starter for Week 1, although if you were to ask head coach Urban Meyer this question, he would immediately shoot you down and say that he hasn’t decided anything. In fact, that’s exactly what he told reporters according to Judy Battista of NFL.com.
If he’s not the quarterback we think we can win with — we haven’t made that decision. It’s not a four-year plan. It’s not fair to these players. It’s a one-year plan,” Meyer explained. The head coach also went on to say that while Lawrence can throw the ball well, he has yet to prove that he can win at the highest level. With this in mind, Meyer decided to bring up Tom Brady as an example.
“What makes Tom Brady the greatest quarterback of all time is he find ways to win,” Meyer said. “Whether he’s a Buccaneer or with the New England Patriots, he finds a way to win. I’ve had quarterbacks like that — they win. I don’t know if we’re going to tell in a year. He throws a nice ball, that makes him one of about 60 to 70 quarterbacks. Does he win games?”
This wishy-washy attitude could very well come as a shock to Jaguars fans who were totally on board the Lawrence train. Regardless, Lawrence has a few preseason games where he can prove himself, so fans shouldn’t get too upset with Meyer’s lack of commitment. A lot can change between now and September.
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DJ Akademiks has found a new stream of income, becoming the #2 podcaster on Spotify this week. With the premiere of his new podcast Off The Record last week, which started off with an episode including Tekashi 6ix9ine and Wack 100, the hip-hop commentator has enjoyed massive success, debuting just behind Joe Rogan’s podcast in Spotify’s rankings.
After Charlamagne Tha God and a few other podcasters from his network took aim at Ak’s new venture, the popular blogger shot back with hard numbers, telling Charlamagne not to get involved because he’s not shy to share receipts that he’s beating him and everybody else on his team in that category.
During a recent Twitch stream, Ak went off against Charlamagne and his staff, also dissing Rory and Mal during a heated rant. Much of his diatribe of Charlamagne was actually directed at the Whoreible Decisions podcasters working on his network, who have allegedly been smearing Ak’s name on social media. “When your little failed ass podcast– tell her Akademiks is probably not the n***a you wanna talk about,” said the blogger, fighting back against claims that his YouTube numbers are dwindling against hers.
When he posted about his strong debut on Spotify’s podcast charts, Ak couldn’t help but get a little petty with Rory and Mal, crossing out their show from the listings. He finished the week at #2 in the United States behind Joe Rogan, with an unauthorized compilation page of his Twitch streaming clips clocking in at #5.
Listen to his full rant below.
